Fancy Radios

Discussion in 'The Lounge' started by Longman, Aug 25, 2021.

  1. Longman

    Longman Well-Known Member S2G Supporter

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    @CDV just reminded me I bought this a couple of years ago in a Charity Shop. one of Roberts, Sangean AKAs
    IMG_7298.JPG
    £10 including a set of six Duracell D cells. At the time the internet radio part wasn't working as the station directory it used had either shut down or stopped supporting some models. It, or a replacement, is obviously working now as with no problem I "tuned" into KCSM Jazz in California ! One method of choosing stations is by Country then State
    IMG_7299.JPG
    It is even stereo and has a handle so I suppose is eligible for Stereo2Go
     
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  2. Mister X

    Mister X Moderator Staff Member

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    So that must connect to the internet? Pretty neat, we don't see units like that over here, I guess everyone just uses their phones. Back in the mid-2000's there was a great little program I had on my computer, it would search out internet radio streams and you could use it like a radio but it also had the ability to record in MP3. Those were the good-ole-days when some stations would play the same artist 24/7.
     
  3. Longman

    Longman Well-Known Member S2G Supporter

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    Yes it is connected to my router via WiFi.

    Here are the details
    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Robert-Stream-Stereo-Internet-Radio/dp/B004762ZRO
    First available in 2010, probably before Bluetooth speakers were common.

    Such radios are still being made. It was seeing one of the Sangean website
    https://www.sangean.eu/products/product.asp?l=2&cid=2&mid=167
    that reminded me about having this one.

    The problem with radios like the one I have is that they rely on a a company maintaining a Portal with the list of stations.
    Without that the internet side is next to useless. Just after buying it I discovered lots of people were having problems a bit like those described here
    https://forums.digitalspy.com/discussion/2391944/pure-and-roberts-internet-radio-portal-outages
    That might have been why it ended up in the Charity shop.

    Of course nowadays a "Smart" speaker could probably do the same. Smart speakers actually aren't very smart. Again they rely on a server somewhere to do the voice recognition etc.

    Recording digital / internet radio is a different matter. Very few radios have been made that will do it, although I suspect it would be easy to implement as all the hardware to do it is already there. I suspect it is all down to copyright problems.

    I have "virtual audio cable" on one of my PCs which will do it although you can't hear what it is recording as Windows only allows you to route audio to one destination. There might be similar apps for Android. One I had for IOS disappeared a long time ago from the App store.
     
    Last edited: Aug 26, 2021
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